A computer can be safely called a good one if it is capable of supporting the latest games. Few people think about what constituent parts a computer consists of. Only gamers and enthusiasts scrutinize the device, spending a lot of time on it. Modern games are quite "gluttonous" and therefore, to run them, you need an expensive and powerful computer. The key link is usually the processor and video card. In order not to miscalculate, you need to be able to figure out which video card is the best.
More memory
A certain number of years ago, a certain stereotype was formed among amateurs that the more memory a video card has, the more powerful it is. In those days, the volume of video cards ranged from 128 to 256 megabytes, and that was quite a lot. Some games required just that many resources, or even a little more. Many people chose the card that had more memory.
Today, the minimum amount of video card memory is somewhere around 1024 megabytes or less. This is enough for solving everyday tasks, but no longer suitable for a keen player. Cards with 2, 3 and even 4 gigabytes are created especially for gamers. Such volumes allow you to play new games in Full HD mode, at maximum settings.
GPU
The most important indicator of the performance of video cards has always been the GPU. Chips for cards today are mainly manufactured by AMD and Nvidia. And the video cards themselves are created by such manufacturers as MSI, His, Inno3D, Gigabyte, Gainward, Asus, Powercolor, Palit, Sapphire, Zotac, XFX, etc. A person, choosing a card, chooses among these brands.
For a long time there have been disputes over who is better and whose chips are more powerful than Nvidia or AMD, but there is still no definite answer. The performance and cost of video cards is almost the same. The choice will most likely be based on sympathy for a particular brand or model of the video card due to its higher frequencies or an improved cooling system.
Usually, when testing cards from Nvidia and AMD, the main focus is on price-performance ratio. Cost directly affects productivity growth: the more expensive the model, the more powerful it is. True, not every model is effective enough, so you need to at least roughly know the successful specimens. From Nvidia, in the first place deserve attention in the middle class GTX 770, for those who have more money - GTX 780. AMD has analogues that are not inferior to anything in performance: Radeon R9 270X, R9 280X, R9 290. Prices range from $ 150 to 600, it's not cheap, but expectations will certainly be met.
Some additional features
Having decided on the graphics processor, you can already buy the card. If it is in the range of 200-300 dollars, then the computer will already cope with almost all games. But there are still some criteria that determine the potential and cost of a video card. Pay close attention to the factory overclocking, a set of interfaces and a cooling system at least.
If you have no desire to understand overclocking and setting up a video card, then you can pay attention to the upgraded versions of video cards. Unlike their reference counterparts, the increase in power on them can reach up to 5-10%. For example, such models include the Sapphire R9 290 Vapor-X OC - its chip frequency is overclocked to 1030 MHz instead of the usual 947 MHz, the memory frequency is increased from 5000 to 5600 MHz. The price of such cards usually bites slightly, so you need to choose them if you have extra money.
Cooling
Models with a proprietary cooling system are quieter than with a conventional one. The difference in noise reduction from coolers will depend on many factors. It will affect the quality of the PC case, the noise level of other coolers, etc. Non-standard cooling also cools the hot elements of the video card better. As a result, even in the summer heat, the device will be reliably protected from overheating. Effective cooling allows better manual overclocking of the card. There are cards with passive cooling, but they are not suitable for powerful computers, since too weak ones have capabilities.
Interfaces
The more expensive a video card is and the more powerful it is, the more various useful connectors it will have. Their number may also depend on how many slots the card occupies. For a home computer, an HDMI output for a TV and a DVI for a monitor will suffice. These connectors are found in all modern video cards, but it is still worth checking their availability before purchasing. The latest video cards have an HDMI 1.4 connector, which outputs a 3D signal to a special TV. Make sure that the card has all the interfaces you need, and only then make a purchase.
Summing up
If the purpose of using a computer is to surf websites and use office programs, then a discrete card is not needed at all. Otherwise, be prepared to shell out about $ 300. Together with a new powerful video card, you will be able to play modern interesting shooters, strategies, RPGs, etc. Do not forget that a powerful video card will reveal its full potential only on a modern powerful PC.
